Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! – Review

Sometimes I get carried away by a videogame’s hype, whether via forums, articles, or Japanese charts, it can create this little inner voice telling me that I really need that game as soon as possible. There’s no escape, I simply want to get my hands on it without wasting any time. A day without that particular game is a wasted day. Like a carousel, the thoughts about it keep on spinning until, finally, the post delivers that special package from Japan and I can finally relax.

Wrong! Totally wrong. Skip half of the last sentence in the above paragraph, because there is no time to relax. I ordered Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan!, an insane music-driven game—totally in Japanese. Not that I have any knowledge of the language but is that a condition to be able to play and/or enjoy it? No it isn’t necessary. Also it’s still not clear whether the game will ever be released outside of Japan; therefore, no time to waste! Let’s go for the Japanese rhythm style of: Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan!

Are you in trouble? Shout “Ouendan!” and three male cheerleaders show up to solve any problem. By dancing they can save the world! But it’s your responsibility to help them succeed by ensuring they dance in the correct order and to perfect timing. Several scenarios are available, each with their own story (or rather ‘person in trouble’) and accompanying song. The gameplay is all about correct rhythmic timing. While the Japanese music is coming out of the little DS speakers, you’ll need to concentrate on not only the beat but also the circles popping up on screen. The circles contain numbers and need to be tapped in the right order, i.e. one-two-three, etc. all corresponding to the beat. The circles shrink and the timing of tapping is important to score (bonus) points and to continue playing. While tapping wrong numbers or executing bad timing, the song will stop and you’ll have to start all over again. A rhythm bar is on top of the screen to show how your timing is and if you’re able to move on. There are three main touch functions to learn: tapping the circles in time and correct order, touching a ball that moves in a bar. and sometimes you’ll need to spin a huge circle as fast as you can. By completing the song, you’ll have duly helped a person who was in trouble. You’re the hidden factor in the cheerleader team.

The Japanese songs used in this game are very catchy and fun to listen to. Even after playing the game you’ll find yourself singing or whistling the songs. Even as I write I still enjoy the tunes popping up in my mind, though I’m not able to remember any the Japanese words. A varied compilation of songs is available from 60 to perhaps 140 beats per minute. Hardrock, hip-hop, or even slow ballads in a Japanese style are available. Comparable with other musical / dance games, this is simply a unique masterpiece and you’ll never get annoyed by the music. Even after succeeding throughout a song, you’re still able to play it over and over again (maybe to try to remember those Japanese words).

Cut a cartoon / manga into pieces, compile it again and view the story within one minute, and you’ll have a Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! scenario. The text used is, of course, in Japanese with occasional exceptions (such as “help”). But how the story is displayed is understandable even for us non-Japanese gamers. After the story introduction you’ll need to focus on the coloured circles on the touch screen and, while playing, you’ll hardly get the chance to peek on the upper screen to see how the story evolves. But each scenario is divided into three or four parts and in between you’ll get rated and can view how your actions made an impact on the story. The design is magnificent and can be funny but also a little bit scary, especially when people who need help freak out. Ouendan!

Cheerleading is a common female activity in the US, especially during NFL football games. Japan’s turned that perceived world upside down though, thanks to letting male cheerleaders become very successful. So much so that they’re able to rescue people in bad situations and ultimately save the world—in a gaming sense. Okay, the gamer has a big role to play in order to keep those cheerleaders dancing. Regarding a female presence during the game, there’s nothing to complain about really. The ratio is 50/50 and their specific roles are different, i.e. a girl who’s desperately in love and wants to get into the guy’s spotlight, a girl who lost her boyfriend, a mother who brings her son dinner as he’s studying hard, etc.

If there’s one game that’s kept me occupied for the last couple of weeks, it’s Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! When first starting the game it seems almost hilarious and it’s very hard to stop playing. Seeing the male cheerleaders dancing around, listening to the songs (Japanese hip-hop, ballads, disco, etc) and seeing the stories with people going nuts, will make you smile. When starting to play the first few songs it seemed quite an easy game, but don’t be mistaken because, after a couple of songs, the upbeat tunes and speed will increase the game’s difficulty level. It sure can be a challenge to keep up with touching all of the buttons in time / beat to the music. There aren’t that many songs / stories available, but I simply had to reach the highest possible score (A) for each song. Not that I managed it, though, which seems nigh impossible. For music fans or DS gamers who want to explore another musical masterpiece, the magic word is IMPORT. And don’t worry about the Japanese language, it isn’t necessary to cope with the game or its gameplay.

Review by Wencke
Thumb Bandits European Correspondent & manager of GGU.

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